Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1400 God, knowledge of  »  1415 miracles  »  1416 miracles, nature of

Miracles may be performed directly by God or through a human agent. Those recorded in Scripture include healing, raising the dead, miracles of nature and the casting out of demons.

Miracles demonstrate God's greatness and power

Psalm 77:14 See also Exodus 14:30-31; Exodus 34:10; Deuteronomy 3:24; 1 Kings 18:37-39; Job 5:9; Psalm 78:4; Luke 9:42-43

Miracles bringing God's judgment

Leviticus 10:1-2 See also Genesis 19:24-26; Numbers 12:10; Numbers 16:31-35; 1 Kings 13:4-5; 2 Kings 1:9-12; 2 Chronicles 26:19-20; Acts 5:5,10; Acts 13:11

Miracles which meet human need

The provision of food and water

Exodus 17:6 See also Exodus 15:25; Numbers 11:31-32; Numbers 20:10-11; Judges 15:18-19; 1 Kings 17:5-6,8-16; 2 Kings 2:19-22; Kings 4:42-44; Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 8:1-10

Healing

Acts 5:16 See also Numbers 21:6-9; 2 Kings 5:1-14; Luke 9:6; Acts 3:1-10; Acts 9:33-34; Acts 28:7-9

Exorcism

Acts 16:18 See also Mark 6:13; Mark 9:38 pp Luke 9:49; Luke 10:17; Acts 8:7

The raising of the dead

John 11:38-44 See also 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:32-37; Kings 13:21; Acts 9:36-41; Acts 20:9-12

Miraculous births

Genesis 18:10-14 See also Judges 13:2-3; 1 Samuel 1:20; 2 Kings 4:14-17; Luke 1:34-37

Miracles involving military victory

2 Chronicles 32:21 pp 2 Kings 19:35-36 pp Isaiah 37:36-37 See also Exodus 12:29-36; Exodus 14:26-28; Joshua 10:12-14; 1 Samuel 7:10-12; 2 Kings 6:18-23; 2 Chronicles 20:22-26

Miraculous help in trouble

Daniel 6:27 See also Psalm 91:11-12; Daniel 3:19-27; Daniel 6:19-23; Matthew 8:23-27 pp Mark 4:36-41 pp Luke 8:22-25; Acts 12:6-11; Acts 16:25-26

Gifts of supernatural strength

Judges 14:5-6 See also Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14-16; Judges 16:26-30; 1 Kings 18:46

Nature miracles

2 Kings 2:7-8 See also Exodus 10:13-23; Exodus 14:15-22; Joshua 3:14-17; 2 Kings 2:13-14; Matthew 21:18-22 pp Mark 11:12-14 pp Mark 11:20-24; John 2:1-11

Miracles are part of God's plan of redemption

2 Samuel 7:23 pp 1 Chronicles 17:21 See also Mark 16:17-18; Acts 2:22-24; Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:3-4

Miracles occur at times of special significance

At the time of the exodus

Exodus 3:2-3; Exodus 7:3-4; Exodus 16:11-15; Exodus 17:6-7; Numbers 17:8; Deuteronomy 4:34

At times of national religious crisis

1 Kings 18:30-39; 2 Kings 3:16-25; Kings 4:3-7,40-41; Kings 6:5-7

In the time of Jesus Christ

Matthew 14:15-21 pp Mark 6:35-44 pp Luke 9:12-17 pp John 6:5-13; Matthew 20:29-34 pp Mark 10:46-52 pp Luke 18:35-43; John 11:38-44

In the time of the first Christians

Luke 10:17; Acts 8:6,13; Acts 14:8-10,19-20; Acts 19:11-12

Miracles are God's gift

They authenticate the message of his servants

John 10:38 See also Exodus 4:30-31; Matthew 11:2-5 pp Luke 7:20-22; Mark 9:39; Mark 16:20; John 14:11; 2 Corinthians 12:12

They are given by God's sovereign will

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 See also Matthew 10:1 pp Luke 9:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; Galatians 3:5

Miracles are not in themselves proof of God's work

They are no guarantee of genuine faith

Matthew 7:22-23 See also Luke 16:27-31; John 2:23-24; 1 Corinthians 13:1-2

They can be counterfeited

Matthew 24:24 See also Exodus 7:11-12,22; Exodus 8:7; Acts 8:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:20

See also

1060  God, greatness of
1105  God, power of
1265  hand of God
1355  providence
1448  signs
2351  Christ, miracles
4165  exorcism
5333  healing
5454  power, God's saving
7966  spiritual gifts
9210  judgment, God's
9310  resurrection